Make-A-Wish Wisconsin postpones nearly 90 wishes due to COVID-19, hosts annual gala online

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Make-A-Wish foundation has had to delay dozens of children’s wishes because of the coronavirus.

Nine-year-old Harlow Millies, of Hartland, is one of those children.

She was so excited to visit Disney World over Spring Break.

“When I heard that we had to postpone it, I was kind of sad," Harlow said.

This would’ve been Harlow’s first time on an airplane and her first visit to Disney.

“All my friends have gone and they said it’s really fun there," she explained.

Harlow is a cancer survivor.

She went through 27 months of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was cleared in December 2019.

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin granted her dream trip.

And sadly, it’s now one of about 90 wishes pushed back because of safety concerns around COVID-19.

“When we found out that Disney actually closed, we knew that there was going to be no other option for us to go," Nora Millies, Harlow's mother, said.

“We, of course, feel horrible about that," said Forrest Doolen, marketing and communications director for Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. “Once we are able through this season we’re going to be granting wishes at an unprecedented rate.”

The coronavirus also put the foundation’s annual Wish Night fundraiser in jeopardy.

But with some quick adjustments, it moved from the Pfister Hotel to Facebook and YouTube.

“When events like this happen people come together around those common causes of hope," Doolen said.

“Cancer doesn’t stop, kids with disabilities don’t stop, families going through hardships don’t stop," Nora Millies said.

And because life continues to move, Nora and Harlow hope those who can will keep helping children in need get their wishes.

If you couldn’t make it to tonight’s gala, there are still ways to support Make-A-Wish.

Donations can still be made on the foundation’s website.